Natural Health, Acupuncture & Alternative Medicine

Health

At face value, you probably wouldn’t think that green tea is such a potent drink. In truth, it is packed with elements that can improve your quality of life and build great health when frequently drunk over time. To put this into perspective, here are some of the top health benefits of green tea.

It’s Filled With Antioxidants

If you look at high-quality brands of the tea, you’ll notice that they are filled with essential nutrients and antioxidants. This includes the Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) antioxidant, something that is used to treat several diseases. This compound alone makes green tea great for your health.

It Wakes Up The Brain

There’s a stigma that tea doesn’t contain caffeine, especially green tea. But the truth is green tea does carry low quantities, which is a stimulant for the brain. Apart from caffeine, there is also amino acids involved. One amino acid, in particular, is called L-theanine, which helps the body to release dopamine while enhancing alpha brainwave activity.

It Helps To Boost Metabolism

Do yourself a favor and check the ingredient list for some of the fat burning supplements currently on offer. More often than not, green tea will form part of the mix. The reason for this is mainly because Green tea is well-known for assisting the body’s metabolic capabilities. Plus, it should help you perform better thanks to the caffeine mentioned earlier.

In particular, the tea gets to work on breaking down and eliminating fat cells that are stored around the mid drift. This quality makes it a very popular inclusion for people who are wanting to lose weight. Green tea seems to have this remarkable capability due to the unique combination of the caffeine and the highly beneficial antioxidant, EGCG. Together, the burn fat in the body and help to eliminate toxins, making the overall system much more efficient.

It Lowers The Risk Of Cancer

Cancer is a very sensitive subject, and millions of people lose their lives to this dreaded disease annually. It’s no surprise that health conscious people want to lower their risk of cancer cells growing.

There are studies that show women who drink green tea have a lower risk of developing breast cancer. More specifically, they cut their chances by 22%. The most common cancer among men, namely prostate cancer, is lowered by up to 48% for men who consume green tea on a regular basis.

It is thanks to the wonderful antioxidants known as the EGCG’s found in green tea that gets to work on fighting cancer cells. Besides this, the EGCG’s are also responsible for a whole host of other health benefits achievable with green tea.

It Protects Against Alzheimer’s And Parkinson’s

Green tea doesn’t just give your brain a boost in the short term; it also protects you from severe conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. This is due to the catechin compounds within the tea and several studies back this up.

These are just some of the amazing benefits you can expect to embrace when you start drinking green tea. The list goes on with fighting dangerous bacteria and simply extending your quality of life. Just remember to opt for high-quality brands, because they have more of the good stuff.

When first drinking green tea, it may take a little while to adapt to its taste. Therefore, start off with a more mild brand of green tea, such as Sencha. Sencha is a Japanese green tea, is easily obtainable and is also heralded as one of the higher qualities of green tea. You can, of course, get various grades of Sencha, some of which are better than others. However, generally speaking, Sencha tea, on the whole, is of high quality.

Other Japanese tea’s such as Genmaicha are also very palatable and have a good effect on the brain and the overall health of a person. Ultimately, it doesn’t mater too much which tea you choose for health benefits, as long as you go for a good quality tea. However, that being said, by far the most beneficial in terms of health is Matcha tea as this is the pure leaves ground down into a powder and is said to be up to ten times higher in antioxidants than standard green tea.

Here are some more great benefits of green tea that you might not know about in the video below.

Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years in China to help ease pain, alleviate tension and provide healing for a number of ailments.

People from Canada, Western Europe, and the United States began turning to acupuncture as an effective alternative treatment method for a variety of medical conditions and illnesses around 60 years ago. Since this time, the practice of acupuncture has continued to grow in popularity in the West.

The Background of Acupuncture

Acupuncture uses very fine needles. These needles are placed into specific points, known acupuncture points, which are located along channel pathways, which are said to traverse the body.

Although there is no conclusive evidence as to how acupuncture works, science has observed that there are in fact numerous therapeutic benefits of this alternative approach.

More specifically, results have been achieved for pain relief and the relief of chemotherapy-induced nausea, although acupuncturists claim that the therapy can treat far more than just these ailments.

According to the theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the body contains an energy force called Qi (pronounced Chi). The patient’s Qi flows through twelve pathways throughout the body. These channels are referred to as meridians.

The different meridians are responsible for various organs and physiological and psychological functions of your body. Acupuncture points are located along these meridians, each with different functions and eliciting a unique response in the body.

There is not yet any conclusive scientific evidence proving the existence of these meridians and acupuncture points; therefore, there has been a lot of controversy regarding acupuncture theory among Western scientists and doctors.

Scientists have a difficult time doing case studies of acupuncture because of its invasive nature. In these studies, one group of participants have needles placed in areas that are not acupuncture points. The other group of participants has actual acupuncture. Some studies have shown that both methods of “treatment” offer benefits while other studies have shown that the benefits only occur with real acupuncture. The British Medical Journal states that acupuncture is indeed grounded in science.

The World Health Organization, also known as WHO, states that acupuncture can be used to treat 28 conditions. Evidence also indicates that acupuncture may be therapeutic for many more conditions.

One study done by the Technical University of Munich Germany found that acupuncture can help relieve the symptoms of migraines and tension headaches.

The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center also found that acupuncture can help alleviate dry mouth suffered by patients receiving radiation for head and neck cancers.

How Does Acupuncture Work?

Traditional Chinese medical practitioners believe that health is the result of the balance of the Qi. Qi flows throughout the body along the meridians.

There are said to be around 350 acupuncture points along these meridians. When the Qi cannot flow properly, it can cause illness and disease. Placing acupuncture needles along the acupuncture points restores energy flow, thus healing the body.

Acupuncture can be explained using the concepts of neuroscience. Western practitioners believe these acupuncture points are specific locations that stimulate the muscles, connective tissues and nerves in the body. When these points are stimulated, blood flow to the region increases and triggers the body to release its natural pain killers.

Many conditions can benefit from acupuncture, including migraines, stress, nausea and the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. More and more people are turning to this alternative treatment to find healing and relief of a multitude of symptoms.

Learning Acupuncture

As one can expect, learning acupuncture is not an easy task. A person needs to undergo at least three years training at an established institution to be able to practice acupuncture.

The International College of Oriental Medicine (ICOM) is one of the oldest acupuncture colleges in the West. Founded in 1972, ICOM was the first training college to be the established in the United Kingdom. Click here to see ICOM’s location.

ICOM’s core philosophy and practice are rooted in Classical acupuncture. However, they teach an integrated syllabus, which encompasses all the main disciplines and techniques of acupuncture. Here is more information on acupuncture tuition at ICOM.

ICOM frequently hold open days for people interested in becoming practitioners and for those who are curious about acupuncture and would like to know a little more about how it works. If this interests you, then you can attend one of their open days to finds out more about this fascinating practice.

11. Encourage the growth of new tissue, minimising the appearance of stretch marks and scars.

12. Increase circulation by stimulating the flow of blood throughout the body.

13. Lessen muscle cramps and spasms.

14. Ease the pain associated with migraine headaches.

15. Assist in relaxing muscles that have been injured or pushed beyond their limits.

An Effective Weapon

Without a doubt, massage therapy can be a powerful weapon to have in your wellness arsenal. While most people turn to massage as a way to pamper themselves or relieve stress, it also provides incredible health benefits.

Stress is one of the leading causes of illness and ageing. Leading a life that is filled with stress can result in premature ageing and disease.

Massage’s unique ability to reduce stress and promote deep relaxation can help combat these effects. As a consequence, you may experience:

Less anxiety

More energy

Better sleep

Improved circulation

Increased focus and concentration

Less fatigue

The benefits of massage are not just limited to the physical body. The mind also benefits from deep relaxation. Most people notice that they are more focused and clear-headed after bodywork. These mental and emotional benefits are just as important as the changes that happen in the body as a result of massage therapy.

There are many different types of massage that a person can have. Some will be more beneficial for certain health conditions than others. Here is a good overview of massage along with an explanation of the many different forms of the healing art.

Incredible Changes

Amazing changes can take place in the body as a result of massage therapy. Studies have shown that bodywork can provide the following benefits:

1. A reduction in pain, itchiness and tension in patients suffering from burns.

2. Increased lung function and peak airflow in children who suffer from asthma.

3. A reduction in arthritis-related pain and stiffness.

4. Less cramping and bloating for women with premenstrual syndrome.

5. Faster weight gains in premature babies.

6. A reduction in diastolic blood pressure accompanied by lower levels of stress hormones in people who have been diagnosed with high blood pressure.

The healing power of touch cannot be overrated. Countless studies have shown that it can be beneficial for treating a variety of different health conditions and diseases, ranging from brain disorders to arthritis, injuries, high blood pressure, depression, and anxiety.

Many doctors and other medical professionals are turning to massage as a complement to traditional therapies. Bodywork is being integrated into neonatal care and hospice care.

Some medical complexes are also adding spas to their facilities where patients can go to speed up the healing process after surgery and to help them deal with chronic pain.

Your body is somewhere between half and three-quarters water. Consumption is essential for cellular activities and organ function; therefore it is a vital component of good health.

As a result of this importance, Ayurvedic Medicine has established guidelines regarding drinking water. These are designed to maximise the health benefits obtained from water.

Ayurveda: How to Drink Water Correctly

1. Rather than standing or lying down, sitting is the preferred position for drinking.

2. Do not chug the water; instead, sip it slowly.

3. You should never drink iced water; room temperature is ideal. The theory is that water that is too cold will cool the kidneys down too much, which need to stay warm. If the kidneys are continuously cooled, it may sap the energy of the body, render the kidneys less efficient and cause premature ageing.

4. If you are feeling thirsty, then drink some water. Learn to pay attention to your bodily cues and sip your water as the day goes by.

5. Once you no longer feel thirsty, stop drinking the water. You do not have to continue out of a misguided sense that more is better. Over-drinking can cause you to feel bloated and will only lead the body to excrete the excess through urine.

6. One of the easiest means to tell if you are drinking the proper amount of water each day is to look at your urine. Ideally, it will be a pale yellow colour, similar to that of straw. The darker your urine is, the greater your dehydration levels. Bright dark yellow to orange is an indicator of extreme dehydration. In this case, you must make a conscious effort to drink more regularly.

7. If you regularly have dry or chapped lips, it is likely a sign that you are not drinking enough water.

8. You need to leave a gap before and after meals in regards to drinking water. At a minimum, your stomach should have a one and a half hour break; some may need to wait an additional hour. The reason for the variation is largely dependent on the outside temperature because this has a direct impact on the speed of your digestive processes.

9. However, you can drink small amounts of water with your meal. Sip only enough to make eating and swallowing easier and avoid doing so before you begin to eat and once you have finished your meal. It is preferable that any water consumed during your meal is warm or hot as this will aid the digestion process.

10. To address thirst after your breakfast meal, have a cup of freshly squeezed juice. Following lunch and dinner, you can have a delicious glass of buttermilk. These will both treat your dehydration and provide additional nutrients for your body.

11. The practice of Ushapan is an essential aspect of Ayurveda. It is the practice of drinking water to boost ones immunity. This involves drinking water in the morning, which helps with many common complaints like frequent headaches, anaemia, obesity and high blood pressure.

Why should you avoid water once you have finished your meal?

Doing so is strictly prohibited because it is said to dull your digestive energy. Food will remain in your digestive tract longer, where it may begin to rot and create problems such as bloating and gas.

Summary

Avoiding dehydration is essential for a healthy body. Make sure you frequently drink but not in excess. Drinking warm or hot water is preferable to cold fluids to ensure you do not weaken the energetics of the kidneys. Avoid drinking at meal times, but instead sip fluids after to assist with your digestive process.

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